SeaWorld makes major changes to dolphin show. ‘Dolphin surfing’ is now a thing of the past
A SeaWorld tradition that has been and continues to be slowly torn down is trainer-involved shows with the theme park’s aquatic animals.
Last month, the park said goodbye to a decades old tradition: SeaWorld’s Shamu show no longer includes killer whales doing tricks. “Orca Encounter,” a more educational show, was its replacement.
Now, SeaWorld will be changing another staple of the park that has stuck in guests’ memories for decades. The Dolphin Days show, featuring Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins, will no longer include trainers riding on dolphins’ backs or standing on their beaks.
SeaWorld did not say when the changes will take place or if an entirely new dolphin show will be introduced, like the killer whale show, or if the old show will just be revamped.
Although SeaWorld has been making exhibit and show changes for quite sometime, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says they’re the ones to thank for their success in getting SeaWorld to change its ways.
“Stopping trainers from treating dolphins like surfboards means less abuse at SeaWorld, but orcas and other dolphins continue to suffer in tiny concrete tanks,” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement. “The company seems intent on being dragged, kicking and screaming, into ultimately releasing these animals to seaside sanctuaries. PETA is calling on it to put a plan in place now.”
PETA says their monthslong campaigning, which included veterinary reports, Alec Baldwin and advertisements, was the reason why the dolphin show will be eventually changed.
SeaWorld says otherwise.
“As an accredited zoological facility, our leadership solely determines the content and format of our presentations and is not influenced in any way by the actions of ill-informed activists, who are seemingly more interested in their profile and fund raising than they are the welfare of animals,” SeaWorld said in a statement.
If you want to catch a dolphin show before the changes are made, SeaWorld tickets are on sale.
The park has put park tickets on sale, saving buyers $20. SeaWorld tickets usually cost $105.99 for same-day and advance tickets. Now, tickets bought at least a day in advance are $85.99.
An earlier version of thus story gave an incorrect name for the type of dolphins that perform.
This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 5:02 PM.
%20Cropped%20(2).jpg)